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Tunnels & their Classification

Selection of tunnel alignment

Investigations for Tunneling

Excavation for Tunnels

Shape of Tunnels

Tunneling in Soft Soils & Hard Rocks2

Tunnel Artificial underground passage to by pass obstacles safely without disturbing the over burdenOpen Cut Open to sky passage excavated through huge soil mass of obstacle in required directions to connect two roads or railwaysBridgeOver-ground construction to cross over obstacles without disturbing the natural way below it

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TunnelsAn underground passage for

Road or rail trafficPedestriansUtilitiesFresh water or sewer

Ratio of length to width is at least 2: 1Must be completely enclosed on all sides along the length

Types of TunnelsBased on purpose (road, rail, utilities)Based on surrounding material (soft clay vs. hard rock)Submerged tunnels

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Egyptians and Babylonians – 4000 years agolength – 910 m ; width – 3600 mm ; height –4500mm

Channel Tunnel – linking Britain & France –1994length – 50 km ; undersea component - 39 kmConsist of 3 parallel bores of 50 km length interconnected every 375 m by cross passages

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Nature of SoilRequirements of fillDepth of cut > 18m – tunnelingDesirable when 1. Rapid transport facilities2. Avoids acquisition of land3. Shortest route connection4. Permits easy gradient & encourages high speed5. On strategic routes

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Depend on Topography of area & points of entrance and exit

• Selection of site of tunnel to be made considering two points

Alignment Restraints

Environmental Considerations

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Based on AlignmentOff- Spur tunnels : Short length tunnels to

negotiate minor obstaclesSaddle or base tunnels : tunnels constructed in

valleys along natural slope Slope tunnels : constructed in steep hills for

economic and safe operation Spiral Tunnels : constructed in narrow valleys in

form of loops in interior of mountains so as to increase length of tunnel to avoid steep slopes

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Based on purpose

Conveyance TunnelsTraffic Tunnels

Based on type of material met with in construction

Tunnels in Hard RockTunnels in Soft materialsTunnels in Water Bearing Soils

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Investigations prior to planning

Investigations made at time of planning

Investigations made at time of construction

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Geological Investigations – relation between

bed rock and top soil

Morphology, Petrology, Stratigraphy

Electrical Resistivity Methods – positions of

weak zones - faults, folds and shear zones

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Drilling holes by percussion, rotary percussion and rotaryRotary or Rotary Percussion methods – loose soils Rotary Drilling – rocky soilsSpacing – 300-500m ; reduced to 50-100 m in geologically disturbed areasLateral Spacing – 10-15m from C/L of tunnelDepth – 20-50 m deeper than proposed invert level of tunnel

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For detailed undisturbed observations, shafts can be

excavated

Shafts – vertical or inclined tunnel excavated to reach

and to get information for the area surrounding

proposed tunnel and tunnel section

Section of 3m x 1.5 m to 3 m x 2m

Minimum depth of excavation

Temporary and Permanent Shafts

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Heading – Part of tunnel cross section excavated for small lengths – can be top, bottom or side excavation- part of c/s

Drift – Part of tunnel cross- section excavated for entire length of tunnel

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Heading & Drift give info aboutRock StratificationThickness of layersConstituentsStructure and Texture of rockHardnessTemperatureUnderground water levelsPresence of foul gasesEffect of earthquake and artificial vibrationsPossibility of land slides and rock falls

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Setting Out - Making the centre line or alignment of any construction work on groundSetting out centre line of tunnel by 4 stages:

Setting out tunnel on ground surfaceTransfer of Centre line from surface to undergroundUnderground setting outUnderground Leveling

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Running an open traverse between two ends of proposed tunnel

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Heading consist of short tangent to curve alignment

Offsets measured from these tangents

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Underground shafts –interval of 500 m along transverse linesRectangular Horizontal frame set at proposed location along ABOn two sides of the frame, iron plates are fixed and screwed down & holes are drilled along A and B at X & YPlumb bobs are suspended to define vertical lines

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Set up theodolite at PMeasure PX, PY & XYMark R at randomMeasure angles YPR& XPR , YPX & PYXYXP- Weisbach TriangleSin PYX = (XP/XY ) Sin XPYPQ= YP Sin PYXSet theodolite on P and take back sight on Y. Adjust line of collimation along PP’Turn telescope by angle PYX so that line of sight is brought to PP”. Mark PP”.Measure PQ perpendicular to PP” to get C/L extended up to Q.

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Set theodolite at QTake back sight on X and transit by 180 0

Mark 1” at 10 m from QChange face and mark 1’If 1” & 1’are same, YXQ1 is extended C/L of tunnelElse midpoint of 1” & 1’ is the extended C/L of tunnel

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Reduced Levels of X & Y are foundPlumb bobs are suspended through X and Y to touch marked points X & Y on invert level of tunnelPlumb bob with wire is spread on ground for comparison with steel tape ( say 8 m)From RL of X, subtract 8 m to get RL of point X on invertTaking this level as BM, leveling is performed underground

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Drilling of Holes

Percussions Drills – Jack hammer, Tripod, Drifter, Churn

Abrasion Drills – Shot, Diamond

Fusion Piercing

Special Drills – Implosion, Explosion

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Types of ExplosivesStraight DynamitesAmmonia DynamitesAmmonia - GelatineSemi – GelatineBlasting AgentsSlurries or water jetsTheory of BlastingImpact, Abrasion, Thermally Induced Spalling, Fusion and Vaporization, Chemical Reaction

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Resist pressure exerted by unsupported walls of the tunnel excavation

Design to be done in such a way that it suits the site conditions and functional requirements

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D or Segmental Roof Section

Suitable for sub-ways or navigation tunnelsAdditional Floor Space and flat floor for moving equipment

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Circular SectionTo withstand heavy internal or external radial pressuresBest theoretical section for resisting forcesGreatest C/s Area for least perimeterSewers and water carrying purposes

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Rectangular SectionSuitable for hard rocksAdopted for pedestrian trafficCostly & difficult to constructEgg shaped SectionCarrying sewageEffective in resisting external and internal pressures

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Horse – shoe Section

Semi-circular roof with arched sides and curved invertBest shape for traffic purposesMost suitable for soft rocks and carrying water or sewageMost widely used for highway and railway tunnels

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Determined from utility aspectRoad tunnels – No. of traffic lanesRailway tunnels – Gauge & No. of tracks

Thickness of liningProvision for drainage facilitiesClear opening required for trafficNature of traffic

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Hard Rock or fully self- supporting

Soft Soils – requiring temporary supports during and after construction

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Running ground – needing instant support all around- Water Bearing sands and cohesion-less soilsSoft ground - instant support for roof like soft clayFirm ground – roof will stand for a few minutes and sides for a much longer period- Firm clay and dry earthSelf supporting ground – soil stands supported for a short period and for short lengths of 1200 mm to 5000 mm – sandstones , cemented stones

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ChallengesPreventing soil movementsSoil pressureWater seepage

TechniquesCut and Cover

Supporting BeamsRoof lining

Tunnel Shields

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34Tunnel Shielding Method

Tunnel Shieldinga protective structure used in the excavation of tunnels through soil that is too soft or fluid to remain stable during the time it takes to line the tunnel

developed by Sir Marc Isambard Brunel to excavate the Thames Tunnel beginning in 1825

Types of Shield TunnelingManualTunnel Boring Machine (TBM)

Front end: Rotating cutting wheelMiddle portion: Soil dispensing mechanism via slurryRear portion: Precast concrete sections placement mechanism

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Influencing Factors

Type of rockIgneousSedimentaryMetamorphic

Rock Hardness

Rock Brittleness

Extent of existing fractures and planes of weakness

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Tunneling MethodsHeating and quenching (old technique)

DrillingPercussion drills (penetrate rock by impact action alone)Rotary drills (cut by turning a bit under pressure against the rock face)Rotary-Percussion drills (combine rotary and percussion action)

BlastingPrimary blasting vs Secondary blastingExplosives

Dynamite (expensive)Ammonium Nitrate (cheaper but not good in water logged areas)Slurries (mixture of explosives, gel and water)

Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM)

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